San Francisco receives its electric power through high-voltage transmission lines that run up the Peninsula, and from electric generating units in the City. The electric power from all of these sources is needed to ensure there is a reliable supply to meet San Francisco’s needs, especially during times of peak power use. The problem is the in-City generating units, located at Hunter’s Point and Potrero, are old, dirty and inefficient. They have polluted the air in our Southeast neighborhoods too long and must be shut down.
To remedy this situation, the City acquired four low-emission, natural-gas-fired combustion turbines (CTs) to maintain reliable electric service. Coupled with the upgrade of electric transmission both into and within San Francisco, these units will ensure the closure of the city’s old, polluting power plants.
The Electric Reliability Project consists of two parts:
- Three CTs to be sited at or near the existing Potrero Power Plant;
- One CT to be sited at the San Francisco Airport.
Siting and operating these CTs is an essential step in achieving the shutdown of the older, polluting units, but only a first step within the city's wider Electricity Resource Plan. This plan, approved in December 2002, calls for the development of a broad array of energy resources, including renewable energy, such as solar, wind and tidal power, and significant improvements in energy efficiency.
The Board of Supervisors will soon consider legislation authorizing a contracting and financial structure proposed by SFPUC staff for the development of four natural gas-fired combustion turbine generating units (CT) owned by the City and County of San Francisco. The purpose of pursuing the development of the CT units is to improve environmental quality while maintaining electric system reliability. Successful construction and operation of the CT units has been identified by the California Independent System Operator as a prerequisite to the removal of reliability/must run status from the Mirant Potrero Power Plant.
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The Electricity Resource Plan provides a long-term vision of the City’s possible electricity future. Its companion document, the Energy Resource Investment Strategy, provides analysis and technical recommendations for the future use of energy resources within San Francisco. A 2004 revision to the Plan updates emissions forecasts based on recent analysis and projections. Minor edits have also been made in the text where appropriate.
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